Rovman Powell has been appointed as the captain to lead West Indies in the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024, which will be jointly hosted by Caribbean nations and the USA.
The West Indies team announced their squad of 15 players for the tournament. Shamar Joseph, who showcased his talent during his Test debut against Australia, is set to make his T20I debut after being included in the squad.
Shimron Hetmyer, who missed the T20I series against Australia, returns to the squad after performing well in the ongoing IPL with Rajasthan Royals. However, Kyle Mayers has been excluded from the squad, with the team opting for a lower-order batter instead of an opener. Additionally, pacer Oshane Thomas has also been omitted.
The top-order positions are expected to be filled by Johnson Charles, Brandon King, and Shai Hope. The team boasts a strong lineup of big hitters and all-rounders, including Nicholas Pooran, Andre Russell, Shimron Hetmyer, Powell, Jason Holder, Sherfane Rutherford, and Romario Shepherd.
Akeal Hossain and Gudakesh Motie will handle the spin-bowling department, while the pace attack will be led by vice-captain Alzarri Joseph with the support of Roston Chase.
Desmond Haynes, the Director of West Indies Cricket, discussed the selection process, emphasizing the importance of defining player roles. He highlighted the close decisions made regarding the selection of players like Kyle Mayers and Shimron Hetmyer, focusing on the need for an additional batter in the lower order.
West Indies, part of Group C alongside Afghanistan, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, and Uganda, will begin their campaign on 2 June against Papua New Guinea in Guyana.
Teams have the option to make changes to their squad until 25 May, subject to approval from the ICC's Event Technical Committee thereafter.
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